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It was four o’clock in the morning when Miss Jana got within spitting distance of Key West and Nestor made the call to Rafael. Nestor was not surprised when he answered. It was the middle of his workday. What surprised Nestor was how calmly he took the news of Gorgonio’s untimely demise.
Nestor had altered the facts slightly. Instead of Reymundo killing Gorgonio, Nestor said he had done it. He explained how Gorgonio had gone berserk when he was told he couldn’t have any of the girls, not even one. Nestor said Gorgonio had pulled a gun and said if he couldn’t have the girls, nobody could. “I’m sure he planned to shoot me and the captain,” Nestor told his boss. “The only choice I had was to shoot him.”
It may not have made any difference to Rafael who killed Gorgonio, but Nestor feared Rafael might not believe it was self-defense if he had told him Reymundo killed Gorgonio. In case Rafael checked the gun to see if it had been fired, Nestor shot several rounds out of the cheap Taurus 9mm pistol into the Caribbean, somewhere off the coast of Plantation Key. It was the first time Nestor had fired a gun. Reymundo had shown him how to properly hold the weapon so the slide wouldn’t cut his hand when the gun was fired.
After telling the story of Gorgonio’s death, Nestor estimated they would arrive at the dock around midnight. They were still quite far away but he would call back when they were closer to Miami with an updated ETA.
When the boat passed Fisher Island, Reymundo knew he was two and a half hours from home. Right on schedule. Nestor called Rafael again. The ETA was still midnight. Reymundo, Nestor, and even the girls were exhausted. It was agreed Rafael would meet them at noon for the initial sailing of the Party Girl cruise. He would be the first “guest.”
With the help of the bow thruster, Reymundo eased the big Cheoy Lee into her slip. Nestor tossed the big fenders over the side and secured the dock lines. It would have been nice, but Reymundo knew Jana would not be waiting for him on the dock.
After a cursory check of the boat and his crew, who had all bedded down for the night, Reymundo showered and went to bed. Sleep came easily after two weeks at sea.
At precisely noon the following day, Rafael stood, alone, on the pier next to the Miss Jana. Reymundo and Nestor met him on the dock.
“Where the hell is Jana?”
“She’s safe. J Dog and Freddy are with her. You get her back when I get back.”
Reymundo’s face stiffened. “That wasn’t part of the deal. Either she comes, or I go. The deals off. Call your guys, bring Jana, you take the girls, and we’re done.”
“Hang on a minute. Look, I know how you feel, but look at it from my side. One of my men is dead. Shit happens. I get it. But I need some insurance. I like your idea about these party cruises. It sounds like we’ll both make some money. Let’s do the test cruise so I can make sure it’s what you say it is. If I like it, we have a deal. Jana will be here waiting for you when we return.”
Reymundo rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay. We’ll go. The girls have been trained to treat you like they would a guest. When we get back, if we have a deal or not, Jana needs to be on this dock.”
“Agreed, no problem.”
“One more thing. One of the girls is only fifteen.”
“For real? Nice. Is she a virgin? I’ll do her first.”
“No, you won’t be doing her. She’ll dance for you, but not nude and no touching. It’s bad enough she’s on board. You know what they do to child molesters in prison?”
“Okay. On the boat, she’s off-limits. I can wait.”
“Another thing...”
“You got too many fuckin’ rules.”
“I do. And they’ll be obeyed by all guests, including you. You wanted to see how a cruise would be run. This is it.”
“What’s the rule?”
“No nudity, touching, or sex until we’re offshore, out of sight. It won’t take long.”
“Can’t I take one below and have some fun on the way?”
“No. That’s not how a regular guest would act. You have to experience what a paying guest would experience. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“All righty then. Let’s get this show on the road – or water.”
“Come with me,” Reymundo said. “Nestor, will you get ready to cast off the lines?”
Rafael followed Reymundo onto the boat and into the main salon. They were greeted in Spanish by the four party girls.
“May I get you a drink?” Barbara asked. She was wearing the purple dress Gorgonio said she’d look fine in. With those long legs barely covered, she looked fabulous.
“Sure. How ‘bout a cold beer?” Rafael eyed Barbara and the other girls. They all looked amazing. Reymundo wished Carida, the fifteen-year-old, looked less amazing.
Lily and Barbara led Rafael to the couch, sitting him between them. Carida came with a beer served on a faux silver platter. “Would you like anything else?” she asked in Spanish.
“Only you, Chiquita,” Rafael said studying her young petite body. Carida returned to the bar. Rafael turned his attention back to Lily and Barbara.
On deck, Nestor let loose the dock lines when Reymundo signaled. The big trawler eased out of the slip.
Nestor entered the bridge. “Fenders are up, Skipper.”
“Thanks. Keep an eye on Rafael. Make sure he doesn’t get too friendly with the girls before we get out a ways. We don’t need nosey folks looking in and wondering what’s going on. Let’s keep it clean.”
“Oh, I’m watching him.”
Reymundo laughed. “I bet you are. Don’t be too anxious to break up the party. He’s a guest, you know.”
“Yes, sir.”
Nestor walked out of the wheelhouse, around the corner, and into the small bar. Carida was standing alone, watching Rafael on the couch with the two girls. Nestor joined her, and they watched the girls flirt with Rafael. They were whispering and Nestor couldn’t hear what they were saying.
Rafael would run his hand up one of the girl’s thighs. When he got too far up, she’d stop him and say, “Not yet,” with a playful smirk. He would try the other girl. When she stopped him, he’d laugh. He gently lifted the edge of Lily’s top and peaked at her breasts. She allowed him to look, but as he moved his hand in for a feel, Lily stopped him.
“No, no,” she said. “Not until they say it is okay.”
Rafael looked up at Nestor. “Damn, y’all trained these bitches well. Why don’t you grab a beer and join the fun?”
Nestor was used to being part of the crew. He didn’t realize he wasn’t still, not officially. “Sure,” he said grabbing Eva by the hand. “I’ll trade you. This one for her.” Nestor pointed at Barbara.
Rafael looked both girls over. “I’m not sure that’s a fair trade. She’s a tall drink of water. But hell, I don’t mind. I’ll get her back. I get her first. I don’t do sloppy seconds. I get them all first, you understand?”
“Sure do, boss. You think you’ll be able to do all four?”
“I can sure try. Hey, is the bed big enough for all four at the same time? While I’m resting, they can entertain each other. Man, I’m getting excited just thinking about it. When do we get far enough out to start getting some action?”
“I’m not sure. Shouldn’t be long.” Nestor said as he helped Barbara off the couch. “You’re supposed to be testing the girls. You need to take it slow. You know, have them dance for you. Slowly get undressed.”
“Oh, I think they’re going to do fine. I’ve seen all I need to see. Time to see how they perform. How much longer?” Rafael said, putting an arm around Eva who had snuggled up to him.
“I’ll ask the skipper.”
Nestor hopped up and went into the main bridge. “Rafael’s getting impatient. Wants to know how much longer before he can get them naked.”
“We’ll be out of the channel and into the Atlantic in maybe twenty minutes. I want to get a mile or so out. Tell him half an hour.”
“Roger. You know, he wants to fuck all the girls. Even wants more than one at a time. Said they could entertain him while he’s resting. I think he wants them to make out. I don’t know if they’ll do that. I never thought to ask. Not sure how I would’ve asked anyway.”
“I told him he couldn’t touch Carida. Eva isn’t ready. I don’t think you want him touching Barbara. I’ll tell him he’s not a real paying customer. He’s here to see how the girls would do keeping the clients happy – when they aren’t having sex. That’s what he’s supposed to be experiencing. Any girl can show him a good time in the sack. We want to make sure these girls are good above deck, not below.”
“Man, I’m glad you’re the one going to tell him. Be careful. He can get mean. I got your back.”
“Thanks, Nestor. Good to know.”
Nestor went back to the main salon and sat on the far end of the long couch. Barbara sat on his lap and put her arm around him.
Rafael had a girl on either side of him, but he was looking at Barbara’s legs. “How long am I going to have to wait?” he asked Nestor.
“About half an hour.”
“Shit. Don’t know why I can’t take these two lovelies below. Hey,” he yelled toward Carida. “Una cerveza más, por favor.”
It didn’t take long for Rafael to figure out Lily was friendlier than Eva. His persistence had worn her down and she allowed him to slide his hand through the V in her dress and rub her breast. She also let him pull the hem of her dress up, exposing her pink panties. She refused to uncross her legs.
“Miss Jana, Miss Jana, Miss Jana, this is Seascape on channel 16, over.” As focused as Rafael was on Lily, the voice coming over the VHF radio in the main bridge got his attention.
Reymundo depressed the microphone key, “Seascape, this is Miss Jana. Switch to channel 68, over.”
“Seascape switching 68.”
Reymundo changed the channel on his VHF radio to channel 68. “Seascape, this is Miss Jana.”
“Rey, how the heck are ya?”
“Miggy? Is that you?”
“It is. We decided it was a good day to get the boat out.”
“Where are you?”
“Right behind you.”
Reymundo stepped out of the bridge and looked behind the boat. Rafael was looking too. A thirty-foot Sea Ray Sundancer was following them. A man in a Hawaiian shirt and large-billed cap was waving at them.
“Who the fuck is that?” Rafael snarled.
“It’s my brother. I haven’t seen him in over a month,” Reymundo said as he went back to the radio.
“Miss Jana, this is Seascape.”
“Go ahead, Miggy.”
“You guys got any beer on board. My crew dropped the ice chest and broke most of the bottles. I’m okay with no beer, but they’re getting mighty thirsty.”
“You said they dropped them? Make them suffer.”
“I was going to until I saw Miss Jana.”
“I’ll cut my engines. Ease up to us.”
“10 – 4. Thanks, little brother.”
“Miss Jana returning to stand-by channel sixteen.”
Reymundo cut the engines. He walked into the main salon and found Rafael staring at him. “We’re far enough out. Don’t mind my brother. He wants some beer.” In Spanish, he said to Lily, “You may give our guest a dance now.”
Lily stood, positioned herself between Rafael’s legs, and began to sway seductively. Eva slipped off the couch, moving to a barstool next to Carida. Barbara was still on Nestor’s lap. They were all watching Lily’s performance.
Lily closed her eyes and danced to the music in her head. The boat was dead quiet. She leaned in close, rubbing her thigh against Rafael’s groin. Rafael squeezed her breasts through her dress. She slowly lifted her dress, holding it above her waist as she danced.
Reymundo slipped past the show onto the aft deck. “Throw me a line,” he yelled to the boat below him. He caught the rope and secured it around a cleat. “Come aboard.”
The man stepped onto the swim platform and climbed the boarding ladder. The two men embraced. Rafael glanced at them. Lily, holding her dress waist high, lowered herself onto Rafael and began grinding on his lap.
“Come on inside,” Reymundo said to his brother as the two walked into the main salon.
“What the—”
“Shh,” Reymundo cut him off. “It’s my new business venture. This is our first client.”
“Damn. Can I be your second?”
Lily stood, turned to face Rafael, and pulled the floral and porcelain blue dress over her head. Wearing only pink lace panties, she leaned forward, pressing her bare breasts against Rafael. When Lily leaned back, he ran his hands over her breast, pinching her nipples. He didn’t see the other two men and a woman board the boat.
“Jana!” Reymundo yelled.
Rafael’s rock-hard erection went flaccid instantly. He threw Lily off to the side when Jana leaped into Rey’s arms. The two men who boarded the boat with Jana grabbed Rafael by the arms.
“What the fuck?” Rafael yelled. “What the—?”
“Calm down,” the man sitting to his right said. “You want a beer?”
“No, I don’t want no fucking beer. I want to know what’s going on.” He looked at Jana. “How the fuck did you get here?”
“That boat. How’d you think? I walked?”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean...” He looked at the men sitting beside him. They were both large – tall and extremely muscular. One had several tattoos on his neck. He realized they were the men who robbed him and took Jana. “You fucks!”
Nestor had quietly taken Barbara behind the bar. Reymundo’s brother was keeping one eye on Nestor and the other on the show at the couch. Lily had put her dress on and was standing with the other girls by the bar.
Reymundo slid a deck chair in front of Rafael and sat. “You catch on pretty quickly.”
“These are the guys who robbed me and took your bitch.”
Reymundo backhanded Rafael across the mouth. It was meant to humiliate more than hurt. “I’m fucking tired of you calling my girlfriend a bitch.”
Rafael was speechless. He looked to Nestor for help.
“Don’t look at me. I work for the skipper. Have since he offered me a job when we was in Texas.”
“You son-of-a-bitch. You knew about this?”
“Nope. I’m surprised as you. I didn’t even know you didn’t still have the girl. You said they robbed you? You owe me a month’s pay.”
“Get it from your new employer.”
Until that moment, Reymundo wasn’t sure if Nestor knew what had happened to Rafael. He was now convinced that Nestor could be trusted. “Nestor,” he said. “Could you take a look, make sure we aren’t floating up to any other boats?”
“Sure, Skipper.”
“Feel free to come back.”
“I’m curious,” Reymundo said, turning to Rafael. “You told me Jana was safe with E Dog and Freddy. What were you going to do when we got back and there was no Jana? You think I’d let you get away with that?”
“It’s J Dog.”
“You think I care?”
“Oh. Well, when we got back, I was going to be all friendly and tell you how insane the cruise was, how we could make a great deal of money together. I was going to pretend to call the guys, get all freaked out, tell you someone broke in, robbed me, and took Jana. It would have been the truth, more or less. Then I’d tell you I’d help find the guys who took her, and we’d get her back together.”
“It might have worked. Too bad it was my brother who robbed you and took her. By the way, you haven’t met my brother. Miggy, this is Rafael. Rafael, this is my brother Miquel Cruz.”
“Okay,” Rafael said, “You’ve had your fun. You’ve scared the piss out of me. I’d say we’re even. More than even. Why don’t you turn the boat around, cut me loose, and that’ll be it? We’ll part ways.”
Jana stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend. “Even? Do you think we’re even? Do you remember what you said you were going to do to me when you had me locked in that room?” When he didn’t answer, Jana slapped him. “Do you want me to remind you? It was like, you were going to ‘take it, one way or another.’ Meaning me. And I believe you said every night. I don’t think you were going to let me go back to Reymundo after raping me for two weeks. What were your plans? Drug me and sell me or kill me?” Jana slapped him again. “Well, asshole, what were you going to do to me?”
Rafael’s entire body was shaking. “I...I don’t know. I...I wouldn’t have killed you, I promise, I wouldn’t have.”
“Maybe beat me up like you did that girl you brought to the boat?”
“No, I wouldn’t...” Rafael had tears running down his cheeks.
“Bullshit. You sniveling little prick. You beat the shit out of girls and sit here crying like a baby.”
“Jana,” Reymundo said.
She kissed Reymundo. “Yeah, no need to get worked up over this piece of shit.”
Rafael had regained some of his composure. “What are you going to do? We going back now?”
Reymundo leaned forward. “We are. You’re taking a boat ride with our friends.”
Rafael squirmed but could not move. “Jesus, let me go. You got your girl and all my money. We’re square.”
“You were going to hold my lady hostage and rape her at will. You think we’re square?”
“But I didn’t. I wasn’t.”
“Bullshit.” Reymundo walked across the salon and disappeared down the steps. Everyone in the room sat quietly. In less than a minute Reymundo returned carrying a long rope with a chain on one end.
“This,” he held up the rope, “is the anchor rope off the dingy. It’s got this, oh, ten-foot length of chain on the end. I don’t need it. Gorgonio took the anchor when he fell into the Gulf of Mexico. Course, he was already dead.” Reymundo unhooked the chain from the rope, handing it to his brother. “I can understand Rafael jumping off your boat like that Cuban girl jumped off mine, but I don’t know why he’d try to steal ten feet of anchor chain. He was never the sharpest knife in the drawer.”
“Aren’t we going to do it, Rey?” Jana asked.
“Do you want to? Do you really want to watch him die?”
“No. Now that you mention it, I don’t.”
Miguel carried the chain. His two friends carried Rafael by the arms while his legs hung limp. He was blubbering like a child.
“Thanks, Miggy, I owe you. You guys, sorry I didn’t get to meet you. Thank you too.”
Miquel’s friend, Cole, said, “Don’t mention it. That lady’s a sweetheart. Invite us to the wedding.”
“Consider yourself invited.”
Rafael struggled, but it was no use against the two Ultimate Fighting Championship contenders.
“Hey,” Jana yelled as they were standing on the swim platform. “Make sure he takes a long walk off a short pier.”